Method and apparatus for forming a textile material with an adhesive type selvage



Sept. 16, 1958 R. D. WOOD, JR., ET AL 2,852,407

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A TEXTILE MATERIAL WITH AN ADHESIVE TYPE SELVAGE Filed Feb. 27, 1956 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 t g G F f] GD 3 3 .pg 3 m w i ;g i

Sept. 16, 1958 R. D. WOOD, JR, ETAL ,8

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A TEXTILE MATERIAL WITH AN ADHESIVE TYPE SELVAGE l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 27, 1956 1:. W000, JR. ETAL METHOD ANDAPPAR Sept. 16, 1958 R. 2,852,407

ATUS FOR FORMING A TEXTILE MATERIAL WITH AN ADHESIVE TYPE SELVAGE 4 10 Sheefs-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 27, 1956 p 1958 R. D. WOOD, JR. ET AL 2,852,407

METHOD AND APPA ATUS FOR FORMING A TEXTILE MATERIAL I wITH AN ADHESIVE TYPE SELVAGE Filed Feb. 27, 1956 10 Sheets-Sheet '4 Sept. 16, 1958 R METHOD AND APPA Filed Feb. 27, 1956 D. WOOD, JR. RATUS FOR FORM WITH AN ADHESIVE T IN YPE ET AL 2,852,407 a A TEXTILE MATERIAL SEILVAGE l0 SheetLs-Sheet 5 Ina 28%??? O. 01%; 624 M r/Ma t 2,852,407 PARATUS FOR FORMING A TEXTILE MATE RIAL Sept. 16, 1958 R. D. wooo, JR, ETAL METHOD AND AP WITH AN ADHESIVE TYPE SELVAGE l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 27, 19,56

m TML Sept. 16, 1958 R. D. WOOD, JR., ETAL 2,852,407

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A TEXTILE MATERIAL WITH AN ADHESIVE TYPE SELVAGE Filed Feb. 27, 1956 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 lawezafozw MTM Sept. 16, 1958 R.. D. WOOD, JR.. ETAL 2,852,407

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A TEXTILE MATERIAL WITH AN ADHESIVE TYPE SELVAGE Filed Feb. 27, 1956 10 Sheets-Sheet s Sept. 16,-1958 R. D. WOOD, JR.. ETAL 2,852,

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A TEXTILE MATERIAL WITH AN ADHESIVE TYPE SELVAGE l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Feb. 2'7, 1956 JR., ET AL 2,852,407

Sept. 16, 1958 R. D. WOOD,

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A TEXTILE MATERIAL WITH AN ADHESIVE TYPE SELVAGE Filed Feb. 2'7, 1956 10 Sheets-Sheet l0 Iaweni'ozw W uiziarnqy United States Patent O METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A TEXTILE MATERIAL WITH AN ADHESIVE TYPE SELVAGE Richard D. Wood, Jr., Wawa, Pa., and Charles T. Gould, Walpole, Mass., assignors to Millville Manufacturing Company, Millville, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 27, 1956, Serial No. 568,115

10 Claims. (Cl. 117-4) This invention relates to methods and apparatus for forming an adhesive type selvage in a textile material. More particularly, the invention is concerned with producing from a continuous web of material articles such as diapers, handkerchiefs, mechanics wipe-up cloths and the like which are cut from the web and whose cut edges are secured by an adhesive selvage on a commercially satisfactory basis.

In an earlier form of diaper forming apparatus which has been proposed to apply adhesive to a Web while in a folded state, the present application is directed specifically to carrying out a similar sequence of impregnating, curing and cutting with respect to web portions which occur in a fiat-wise state. Such a sequence of operations may be carried out with relatively little difiiculty when an appreciably long interval of time is allowed to elapse between each step. However, a great deal of difiiculty arises in attempting to carry out these operations at a relatively high rate of speed which is of commercially suitable nature, having in mind that the web is a dimensionally unstable material.

It will be understood from the nature of a process such as indicated that the web must be periodically advanced in correctly metered lengths and, when alternately gripped and released, tends to stretch and become dimensionally distorted, particularly in a direction longitudinally of the web. Not only does this interfere with correct metering of fabric lengths which are cut but there develops loss of register of the cutting agency with the cured adhesive bearing portions. These problems are further complicated by the fact that the adhesive must be cured in a very short time interval, occurring just before measuring and cutting so that there will be no offsetting or transfer of adhesive to either the metering means or the cutting elements.

In addition to all of these requirements and problems, it will be understood that there is a definite standard of durability and neatness of appearance in the finished product and this necessitates applying the adhesive in a narrow band having sharply defined edges which will present a finished look in the final product. As a result of the problems which are thus encountered in continuous adhesive selvaging operations, there has been, so far as we are aware, no commercially successful method made available to the art for performing this kind of work, and it is, in general, an object of this invention to devise such a method and apparatus whereby there may be carried out rapidly and efficiently a sequence of impregnating, curing and cutting on web portions occurring in a flatwise state.

We have learned that an essential factor in rapidly carrying out the desired sequence of steps indicated is a proper control of the movement 'of the web so that there may be exerted in the web a definite tension which can be held substantially uniform and which can be limited to a degree which will allow the web to be intermittently lead through successive stations for impregnating, curing and cutting without stretching the web to a point causing 1 in, in which method a web of material is furnished from a supply roll at substantially zero tension and thereafter predetermined tension forces are periodically exerted in localized sections of the web and regulated in intensity to provide for advancing the web without substantial dimensional change longitudinally of itself.

We have discovered that, by furnishing web portions at zero tension, we may, at one desired point, exert on the web, for example by means of tension bars, restraining forces of precisely determinable magnitude and we may further engage the Web at anotherpoint with draft forces of a magnitude carefully chosen to provide for advancing the web against the restraining forces of thetension bars without substantial dimensional change.

In furnishing the web so that it will have zero tension, we have devised a method of unwinding the web from its supply roll and causing it to become festooned at one point in its path of travel. At this point of festooning, the web has no tension in it and, in this tension-free state, may be directly lead between bars of predetermined tensioning effect variable as desired. We further combine with this independent web-feeding arrangement a special metering roll assembly which functions to exert controllable draft forces capable of cooperating with the predetermined tensioning forces of the tension bars to provide a correct magnitude of tension for maintaining a given tension force in effect substantially uniformly while the web is in forward motion and, nevertheless, capable of being periodically interrupted to assure forward travel without change in tension.

We have further found that we may combine with the special tension force field thus induced in successive lengths of the web novel adhesive applicator and adhesive curing instrumentalities and, in the case of the adhesive applicator especially, we are enabled to support a narrow transverse section of the web in which tension is sharply localized to facilitate impregnation and curing of adhesive at a relatively rapid rate. As a result of this accelerated speed of impregnation and curing, we find we may directly pass the cured adhesive bearing portions of the web into engagement with metering rolls and thereafter cut the cured adhesive at a line of register which is very close to the metering roll and thereby maximum accuracy and registration may be realized.

These features, as well as other novel aspects of the invention, are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: a

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating steps and apparatus employed in carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are additional diagrammatic views indicating a sequence of steps followed in applying adhesive material in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the selvage forming machine of the invention; 1 a

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of the machine;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view in elevation of a portion of the adhesive applicator mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail plan view of adhesive applicator mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a detail elevational view partly in cross-section of a number of the elements shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is another detail elevatioual view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 7; i

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 1111 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 12 is another enlarged detail view of the adhesive Patented Sept. 16, 1958 applicator mechanism with parts of the adhesive container and gripping bars, as well as the applicator bars, being shown in cross-section;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail view in side elevation of the heating apparatus of the invention;

, Fig. 14 is another detail view partly in cross-section indicating positions assumed by the heating elements in carrying out a cycle of operation;

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view'taken on the line 15- 15 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the front end of the machine more clearly indicating the cutting station;

7 Fig. 17 is a wiring diagram showing electrical circuit means employed in carrying out the invention;

Fig. 18 is another diagrammatic view showing a further wiring arrangement employed in the invention;

Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a modified method of applying adhesive selvage in accordance with the invention;

7 Fig. 20 is a fragmentary plan view of a web of material having adhesive placed thereon in accordance with the method indicated in Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a detail view of a switch arrangement associated with the roll furnishing mechanism; and

Fig. 22 is another detail view showing the switch arrangement viewed from another side.

Referring in detail to the structure shown in these figures, numeral 2 denotes uprights of angle iron or other suitable material to which are secured transversely disposed upper sides as 4 and longitudinally disposed sides as 6 and 8 which combine to form a raised elongated frame structure on which is supported a series of ma chine components. These components include a supply roll of textile material and means for furnishing a tensionfree web therefrom; a series of tensioning bars for exerting predetermined restraining forces on the web; an adhesive applicator, including means for exerting a localized tension; curing apparatus; a metering roll assembly; a shear type cutter mechanism; and an outfeed conveyor.

The supply roll of textile material is indicated by numeral 10 and is most clearly shown in Figs. 1, and 6. In a preferred form, the roll may consist of a cotton textile of the type employed in making diapers, for example. As shown in Fig. 6, the roll has a roll shaft 11 which is adjustably supported at either end in slotted angle brackets 12 and 13. The latter members may be adjustably set at 14 and 15 to vary the angle of inclination of the brackets 11 and 12, and this adjustment serves to vary the angle of the slots in the brackets.

In practice, a Web W of the textile material is drawn away from the underside of the supply roll 10 in a direction from right to left, as viewed in Fig. 1, and is guided along an upwardly directed path. In accordance with the invention, we provide a specially devised feed roll arrangement which will furnish this Web under zero tension.- It has been found that we may locate a feed roll 16 between the sides of the frame in a position such that it is in rolling contact with the roll 10 and, furthermore, receives some of the Weight of the roll 10 against its peripheral surface at the line of rolling contact. We further provide, with this roll 16, means for independently rotating the roll in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, for which purpose we may employ, for example, a variable speed drive 17 having a chain 18 which drives a sprocket 19 at the end of the feed roll.

Attention is directed to the fact that ordinarily, in arranging a feed roll against a roll of textile material in a position such that the roll of textile material is angularly supported thereagainst, there is a compressive force which reacts to interfere with smooth travel of the web from the supply roll and, from time to time, the web will clog and become folded or creased upon itself at the time it 4 passes between the nip of the supply roll and the feed roll. Therefore, such a feed has not been regarded as feasible.

We have discovered, however, that web interference may be avoided if a proper angle of inclination for supporting the axis of the supply roll against the feed roll is chosen. For example, we have found that an angle of 20 to the horizontal will avoid interference and permit the feed roll 16 to smoothly and continuously carry away the web from the supply roll. It will be apparent that the web W, as it leaves the feed roll, in such an arrangement drops away and will be under zero tension. In order to insure that this Zero tension may be constantly maintained in effect, the web throughout a part of its length is caused to be lead downwardly and then upwardly to provide a festoon of the material, indicated by the numeral 10a, as shown in Fig. 1.

It will be appreciated that the web W may be carried away from the point of festooning with zero tension being constantly maintained and where the demand for the web increases or decreases in accordance with subsequent selvage operations, and the speeds at which they are conducted, the feeding rate of the feed roll 16 may be adjusted through its variable speed drive 17 to always meet this demand with development of correct tension at this point.

In accordance with the invention, we next carry out the step of exerting a predetermined restraining force on the web W as it leaves the point of festooning at substantially zero tension. For this purpose, we employ some suitable tensioning means as, for example, that shown in Fig. 1, including a series of tensioning bars as 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 supported along the upper sides of the frame in a detachably mounted manner and arranged at different levels so that the web is caused to be guided along a sinuous path of travel. In this way, frictional engaging forces may be controlled very carefully and a correct restraining force exerted at this point.

It is again pointed out that the method of the invention is dependent upon the concept of carefully holding the web in a uniform state of tension while intermittent feeding, impregnating and curing operations take place. It should also be further observed that this sequence of feeding, impregnating and curing of the invention necessarily has to be followed by the step of metering correct lengths of pieces to be cut. Furthermore, the metered lengths must be registered so that cured adhesive bearing portions may be centrally registered with a fixed line of cutting which must be approached after the measuring takes place.

In this connection, the arrangement of the tension bars described is important and constitutes one of two basic components of a novel web advancing combination which we have found is capable of properly holding the web in a state of uniform tension while it is subjected to the operations noted. The second basic component of the combination is the metering roll assembly already referred to, and the arrangement of this roll assembly in relation to the tension bars. It will be observed that the tension bars not only provide for a controlled restraining force but also support the web in a position such that it may move along a horizontal path slightly above the level of the frame.

Considering this metering roll assembly in greater detail, attention is directed to Figs. 1, 5 and 6 which include a small roll and a large roll 162, the drive for which is described at a later point in the specification. The small roll 10!? is located in a position such that its periphery is tangent to the horizontal plane of travel of the web as it leaves the fixed tension bar 61. The large roll 102 is rolling in unison with the small roll in slightly spaced relation and is constructed with a peripheral magnitude such that a metered length of material of a predetermined size will be drawn from the tension bars during a rotative movement of of the crank disc 94.

'5 Also included in the metering roll assembly are the two draft rolls 110, 112 which provide a slight additional draft force.

We have found that we may, by regulating the surface speed of the roll 100 and the roll 102 and the speed of rotation of the draft rolls 110, 112, induce draft forces of just sufiicient magnitude to exceed the restraining forces of the tension bars and permit forward intermittent movement without stretching the web so as to produce dimensional changes longitudinally. This is accomplished even when dealing with textile material occurring with varying degrees of warp and filling stretch.

With this basic combination of means for inducing draft forces, we further combine the impregnating, curing and cutting instrumentalities. Considering first the adhesive applicator, we provide an elongated adhesive container 30 (see Fig. 12) which is supported transversely between two opposite sides of the machine on a base 30a at a point well below the path of travel of the web W. In this container is received a suitable adhesive 31, such as, for example, a relatively thin paste-like substance comprising a vinyl copolymer occurring in the form of a plastisol which may be modified with a suitable filler, plasticizer and swelling agent. Various other substances may be employed for this purpose.

Although not essential to the invention, we may desire to employ an enclosure of some suitable form for surrounding the container and numeral 32 indicates one form of enclosure in which is held a liquid as water heated by coils 34, as suggested in Fig. 1. The purpose of this arrangement is to keep the adhesive 31 at a properly thinned consistency. We may also desire to keep the fluid in substantially sealed relationship with respect to the portions of the web passing above the container in order to avoid exposing the web to steam or other vapor.

In the body of adhesive 31 in container 30 is disposed a pivoting adhesive applicator bar 36 which normally is immersed in the adhesive in substantially the position shown in Fig. 12. This pivoting applicator bar 36 is formed with studs carried between a pair of arms 37 and '38 fixed on a shaft 46 and the studs are free to turn in the extremities of the arms 37 and 38 when the shaft 40 is rotated. Also mounted on the two stud extremities of the applicator bar 36 are cam elements 41 and 42 having a shape such as that shown in Fig. 12 and formed with slots as 43. Received through the slots 43 are pins as 44 (Figs. 8 and 12) which function to rotate and guide the cam elements 41 and 42 into a position such as that shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12 when the shaft 40 is turned in a counterclockwise direction.

In moving the bar into this position, it will be observed that, in accordance with the invention, two separate operations are-performed. In the first part of its movement, the bar 36 is raised out of the fluid adhesive body and swings into engagement with a doctor blade 46 which is solidly secured between the two sides of the frame on a support as St} in turn anchored to a transverse angle iron framepiece 52 extending across the machine. A plate 54 supports the doctor blade at its underside in an adjustable manner.

The setting of the doctor blade is chosen such that excess adhesive is scraped away from the engaging surface 36a of the bar and a desired amount of adhesive in the form of a thin film is left to be carried forward for the impregnating step. At the last part of its movement, the bar comes into contact with the underside of the web W in a substantially squared position such that the surface 36:: first lightly engages the underside of the web, as shown in Fig. 12, and then raises the web upwardly a short distance until the engaged portion of the web is forced against a stationary applicator bar 56. The latter member is rigidly secured to the transverse framepiece 52 by fastenings as 58 (Fig. 12) in a position such that the bottom face of this stationary" bar is lo- "6 cated above'and in spaced relation to thenormal path of travel of the web W.

Arranged to cooperate with the applicator bars described are special clamping members which, as earlier disclosed, operate to localize tension forces in a relatively narrow section of the web W and also serve to prevent, to a large extent, stretching of the Web When the adhesive applicator bars move into contact with this member. This section includes the part of the web W which, at any particular time, is located just above the adhesive container. The clamping members are located on opposite sides of the container and include a pair of clamping bars 60 and 61 and a second pair of bars 62 and 63.

We have devised a special actuating mechanism for raising and lowering the two sets of clamping bars in such a way that we localize tension without distorting the web and yet are enabled to hold the web with a certain amount of desired resiliency. The actuating mechanism referred to includes a pair of slides 64 and 65 which are guided in channelled ways as 66, best shown in Fig. 7 and mounted on the tops of the frame sides 6' and 8.

Each of these slides have intermediate portions formed with rack -sections as 67 and 68 which are engaged by pinions 69 and 70 fast on the shaft 40. At their righthand extremities, as viewed in Fig. 7, the slides 64 and 65 are formed with cam surfaces as 64, best shown in Fig. 7. Arranged to engage with these surfaces 64 are cam followers 65'. These cam followers 65 are pivotally supported in opposite ends of the clamping bar 60 on suitable stud portions. Also attached to the bar 60, as shown in Fig. 11, are pivoted linkages as 74 and 76 which are free to turn on a shaft 78 mounted in suitable bearings on a framepiece 52.

At the left-hand extremities of the slides 64 and 65, as viewed in Fig. 7, there are further formed dual cam surfaces as 80 and 80' which, as best shown in Figs. 7 and 11, have supported in rolling engagement therewith cam followers as 82 and 82' located in respective upper and lower positions as noted. These cam followers are supported on stud portions as 81 forming a part of the bars 62 and 63, and attached to these bars at the upper side thereof, as shown in Figs. 8 and 12, are arms as 84 resiliently held by a spring as 85 and fixed to and freely supported on the shaft 40, as indicated in Fig. 8 especially.

By means of this slide arrangement described, it will be seen that rotating the pinion 69 will acuate the slides through the rack section 67 and 68 and, when the travel of the slides is from right to left, as viewed in Fig. 7, the respective cam surfaces of these slides and their cam followers described will raise the movable clamp 60 and will also respectively raise and lower the clamps 62 and 63, thus freeing the web W for movement. Turning the pinion 69 in the opposite direction will cause the clamp 60 to engage the web W against the clamp 61 over which it is sliding and simultaneously the two clamps 62 and 63 will come together and hold the web therebetween. The' combined action of these two sets of clamping members, therefore, holds a narrow section of the web all the way across its width and prevents stretching of the web when the adhesive is applied.

Closing of the clamps is organized to occur in exact timed relationship with respect to movement of the pivoting applicator bar 36. This timing operation, together with suitable means for carrying it out, constitutes a further feature of the invention. As one suitable means for carrying out the timed cycle, We provide a power-driven crank disc mechanism on a special timing shaft.

Power is supplied from a motor M (Fig. 15) which is belted to a gear reducer 940 having a pinion 91 in mesh with a gear 92 on a shaft 93 which is the timing shaft for the entire machine. One rotation of this timing shaft 93 provides a full cycle of operation for the adhesive applicator and clamping members.

The shaft 93 has at one end thereof a crank disc 94 which occurs outside of the frame of the machine. This crank disc, also shown in Fig. 6, carries a crank rod member 96 which operates a rack and pinion assembly at the lower end thereof, and this crank rod is eccentrically pinned to the disc to provide for periodic movement of the rack and pinion assembly. The rack and pinion assembly drives an over-riding clutch 98 on a shaft 99.

On shaft 93 is fixed a cam 86 and a cam follower 88 which engages in a link 104. This link 104 is pivoted to another driving link 106, best shown in Fig. 7. The driving link 1116 is fixed to the shaft 40 and has its opposite end resiliently held by a spring 108. An elongated slot 111 has received therethrough a pin 113 which permits the driving link to move on the pin when actuated by the cam follower link 104. This action provides for intermittently turning the shaft 40 and thus actuating the slides in the manner already described, as well as raising and lowering the applicator bar supporting arms. The combination of cam surfaces thus brought into operation provides the desired timing.

In Figs. 2, 3 and 4, there has been indicated diagrammatically a series of steps for applying adhesive in accordance with the method of the invention and taking advantage of the localized tension provided by the clamping members described. It will be understood that moving an applicator bar into and out of contact with a web at relatively frequent intervals produces a problem in avoiding transfer of adhesive from an edge of the applicator bar beyond the margin line along a textile material. It has been found that if the web, once it has been impregnated, is not cleanly separated from the applicator bar before the web starts to move forwardly for the next cycle of operation, the web may tend to drag slightly across the adhesive bar and form an unsightly irregular line. We have found that we may avoid this difiiculty by causing the web to be resiliently supported along a narrow transverse section for which purpose we have provided the clamping means described. We find that, by applying the adhesive to the web at a time when it is actually distorted slightly out of its horizontal plane of travel and then retracting the movable applicator bar, the web may be induced to resiliently spring away from the bar without transfer of adhesive beyond the desired margin line and yet stretching of the web is prevented.

Fig. 2 shows the two sets of clamping members represented by the bars 62, 63, 60 and 61, respectively, in an open position assumed by these members when the web is moving and the pivoting applicator bar 36 is in the adhesive. A companion part of Fig. 2 at its right-hand side shows the same parts with web gripped by the clamping means and the adhesive applicator nearly in position to engage against the web. Fig. 3 shows the web distorted upwardly out of its plane of movement and forced against upper stationary applicator bar 56. Fig. 4 shows the same parts with the applicator bar partly pulled away and with the web distorted downwardly and seeking to spring back into its normal horizontally disposed position and, finally, the companion part of Fig. 4 at its right-hand side shows the web sprung back into its normally horizontally supported position in spaced relation to the applicator bar 56 and ready to advance forwardly for the next cycle. Attention is again directed to the fact that the slight amount of distortion which may be induced by the adhesive applicator bars in the web without the use of the clamping means may, in some cases, be sufficient to produce a change in dimension longitudinally of the web. This may, in some cases at least, cause loss of register at the cutting station hereinafter described. Therefore, the feature of localizing tension and preventing stretch in the zone of adhesive applica- 8 tion is a further feature of the invention, although it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto.

From the adhesive applicator station described, that part of the web bearing a narrow band of adhesive is then advanced to the heating apparatus which is most clearly shown in Figs. 5, 6, 13, 14 and 15. This apparatus consists essentially of a pair of upper and lower heating units which are constructed and arranged to be moved into and out of a heat radiating position with respect to the band of adhesive.

The heating units may be of any desired type, such as an infra-red heater, a dielectric heater and the like and, as representative of any of these desired heaters, there is shown in Fig. 14 members 115 and 119 consisting of elongated tubular heating elements having a length roughly corresponding to the length of the band of adhesive applied to the web by the applicator bars. These tubular heating elements are housed in heating supports which include parabolic reflectors 114 and 116. Each heating element is separately mounted for rotative movement through an arc of approximately about horizontal axes into positions such as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 14 when the machine stops (lo-energizing the solenoid b (Fig. 17).

As one suitable means of carrying out the indicated rotative movement of the heating members, there may be employed shafts 118 and 12. received in suitable bearings as 121 and 123. These shafts, at their righthand ends, as viewed in Fig. 15, have fixed thereon sprockets as 126 and 128, respectively, which are driven by chains 127 and 129. The sprocket chain 127 is anchored at point 131 on sprocket 126 and has its opposite end secured to and in driving relation with a chain disc 134 fixed on a shaft 134a. Similarly, chain 129 is anchored to the sprocket 128 and has its other extremity secured in driving relationship to an opposite side of the disc 134, as best shown in Fig. 13.

Rotative movement of the shafts bearing the heating members is produced by means of an air cylinder 136 of well-known type. This air cylinder is supported on the frame side 8, as shown in Fig. 5, one end being pivotally retained on a bracket member 1% and the plunger end carrying a slotted angle piece 136a pivotally attached by a pin 141 to a lever 143 in turn fixed to the shaft 134a of the disc 134. The angle piece 136a is resiliently held by a spring 146 anchored to the base of the bracket 138 and this spring normally operates to hold the plunger 144 in a retracted position. Compressed air introduced at 148 extends the plunger 144 and turns the disc 134 through an arc of approximately 60.

Also secured to the axis of rotation of the disc 134 is a second lever 150 having attached thereto a spring 152 which is anchored to a framepiece 154. Movement of the disc by the air cylinder 136 operates through the lever 143 and chains 127 and 129 to rotate the upper sprocket counterclockwise and the lower sprocket clockwise, respectively, from the dotted line positions in Fig. 14 to the view as shown when the machine starts. The lamps and 117 do not rotate when said vertical adjustment occurs since chains 127 and 129 increase or decrease their wrap on disc 134 by forcing rotation on disc 134. This adjusting rotation is allowed by pin 141 in slot of 136a and tension spring 152.

In addition to the rotative adjustments of the heating members, we may also provide for changing the vertical spacing of these members with respect to the web W passing therebetween. This vertical adjustment is carried out by means of double acting screws as 164 and 165 which are vertically supported in U-shaped brackets 166 and 168 solidly secured to the frame sides 6 and 8. These screws 164 and 165 may be attached to the two lamp shafts 118 and in some suitable manner as, for example, by being threaded through the respective pairs of bearing blocks 121 and 123. At their lower extremities, the screws 164 and have fixed thereto 9 sprockets 170 and 172 about which is trained the chain 174. When the handle 176 at the top of screw 164 is turned, both screws may be operated in synchronized relationship and a uniform spacing of the lamps maintained throughout their length.

As soon as the short curing interval allowed for exposure of the adhesive to the heating members has terminated, the web is drawn forwardly by the action of the metering roll assembly already referred to briefly at an earlier point in the specification. The larger roll 102 of this assembly, which actually performs the metering operation, is mounted on a shaft 102a, as shown in Fig. 16. One end of the shaft is rotatably supported in a bearing 102b and the other end of the shaft 102a is also supported in a similar bearing 102 and has fixed thereon a sprocket 1020. The sprocket 1020 may be driven by chain 102d which meshes with a sprocket 102e located at the bottom of the machine on the shaft 99, as suggested in Fig. 15.

On each complete rotation of the crank disc 94, earlier described, the gear 102e, actuated by the over-riding clutch 98, will cause the roll 102 to rotate to a predetermined extent and perform one measuring operation and then stop without loss of register.

In order to provide for positive interruption of movement of the metering roll 102 at the correct point to insure register for a subsequent cutting operation, we further combine with roll 102 an electrically operated brake. This brake may be of conventional type and includes a rotating part 180 which may, for example, be keyed to the shaft 102a and a stationary part 131 which includes solenoid means for drawing the rotating part 180 into locking engagement with itself.

A microswitch 182, best shown in Fig. 6, controls this electric brake. In our invention, we combine the microswitch operating arm and pivoted roll which are arranged to engage along an arcuate cam plate 184 secured around a part of the periphery of the crank disc 94, as is shown in Fig. 6. In this arrangement, rotation of the crank disc with the arcuate cam plate engaged against the operating arm of microswitch 182 will take place with the brake held in a disengaged position. Immediately upon the cam plate passing by the operating arm of switch 182, a circuit is closed through the solenoid portion of the brake and the rotating part 180 is drawn into locking engagement with the stationary part and the shaft 102a is positively braked. By controlling the time interval of braking, rotation of the metering roll can be precisely brought into register with other movements so as to always out the band of adhesive centrally.

Also mounted on the shaft 102a is another gear 102g which meshes with and drives a gear 102k (see Fig. This gear is fast on a shaft 100a which carries the smaller roll 100 of the metering roll assembly. This latter roll maintains the web at a correct level as it comes from the applicator and heater and guides the web into correct engagement with the metering roll.

The metered length of web W, passing over the roll 102, is guided downwardly between a pair of draft rolls 110 and 112 to a cutting station. These rolls are supported on shafts 103 and 105 carrying gears 107 and 109 in mesh with one another. A second set of similarly engaged draft rolls 122 and 124 are provided. One roll of each set and the conveyor roll 208 are drivenby the chain 102d, as will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 6. The two sets of draft rolls constitute means for holding the web in position to be cut.

The web, as it leaves the metering roll 102, is drawn downwardly between the draft rolls 110 and 112 with a gripping force which avoids stretching into position to be cut along a line of cutting passing centrally of the band of adhesive on the web. It will be apparent that the adhesive can, by this means, be constantly guided to come into exact register with a cutting mechanism positioned to provide a transversely directed cut.

We have found that, with the metered length supported in a vertical position, ,We may employ a shear type cutting mechanism of a class which is well known to those skilled in the art and which includes a pair of blades, one of which moves about a vertical axis. In Fig. 16, there is illustrated one suitable cutting mechanism of this class and the two blade portions are indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 1 by the numerals and 132. As further shown in Fig. 16, the movable blade 132 is mounted in a pivoting frame which includes vertical posts 137 and 139 carrying pivoted frame arms 140 and 142.

This unit may be secured to themain frame of the machine in any desired manner as by means of a separate angle iron section secured between the sides 6 and 8, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. The pivoting frame arms 140 and 142, together with the movable blade 132, are actuated by a cam controlled rod L which is pivotally attached to a vertical link L in turn pivoted at its lower end to an angle support L. The link L carries at an intermediate point therealong a cam follower 200 which rides on a cam 202 fast on the shaft 93. This arrangement operates to actuate the movable blade in timed relation to movement of the measuring roll so that the adhesive band will be stopped in register with the line of cutting of these shear members.

When the shearing operation has taken place, the lower section of material which has been separated from the main web continues through the lower set of draft rolls 122 and 124 and is guided on to a conveyor belt 206 which extends below the draft rolls and passes around a conveyor driving roll 208. W1 denotes a finished piece being carried away on the conveyor.

In Figs. 17 and 18 are shown circuit diagrams of the electrical components of the invention. The electric circuits of Fig. 17 include a magnetic contactor indicated by the enclosure defined by the boundary lines a; the main machine motor M; the unwind motor 17; the air valve solenoid b; electric brake control box c, microswitches 182, e, 270; the double pole, double throw switch g; stop buttons h, i, j, the start button k.

The machine is started by operating the start switch k, closing the 110-volt circuit originating at supply terminals L11 and L12 and energizing the solenoids l and m. When solenoid l is activated, contacts are closed preserving the low voltage circuit even though the momentary contact switch k reopens. Also when solenoid l is activated, its contacts l l are closed completing the three-phase high voltage circuit originating at the supply terminals L1, L2, L3 and energizing main motor M connected to output terminals T1, T2, T3.

The high voltage circuit is protected by the thermal overload switches n1 and n2. When solenoid m is activated, the four contacts complete the low voltage circuit which originates after the fuses 0, p and energizes the air valve solenoid b and the vari-speed motor drive 17 connected to the output terminals T11, T12.

The machine is stopped by any hand push button switch h, i, or or by either of the emergency switches e, 270, or by the overload protection switches or fuses. The electric brake control box 0 takes its power from the 110-volt line after the fuses 0, p in the magnetic starter. The open side of the double throw double pole switch g is in parallel with the brake control box 0. This switch g makes possible the use of the unwind roll motor 17 when furnishing material to feed through the machine before starting.

The heater circuit is indicated in Fig. 18 and shows the high voltage heaters H in parallel controlled by a timing device q to make and break the circuit. This circuit is entirely separate from the three circuits shown in Fig. 17. s

In Fig. 19, I have disclosed a modification of the invention in which adhesive is applied in a longitudinally directed manner as well as transversely of the web W2. In this method of impregnating, we may employ an adhesive applicator 250 and clamping means 252 and'254 of the class already described. A second applicator unit denoted by numeral 256 includes an adhesive container and an arm 256a and a bar applicator 25611. This provides a cross-banded application of adhesive body 258 as shown in Fig. 20.

To cure such a cross-banded adhesive body, we may employ tubular heating elements or other heating means, indicated at 260 and of the class described, arranged to coincide with and overlie the cross-banded adhesive. A metering roll assembly 262 provides metered lengths as earlier described, and cutting may be carried out by blades 264. and 266 in a transverse direction and in a longitudinal direction by cutting means such as the disc 268 located centrally of the web and below the roll 269. We may also employ one or more pairs of shearing disc cutters for this purpose.

It will be apparent that, by applying and cutting crossbanded adhesive, the immediate result is to provide a rapid method of simultaneously forming a plurality of cut pieces in which the web may be separated into any desired number of longitudinally or transversely separated sections.

Another modification of the invention may include a festoon switch such as that shown in Figs. 19, 21 and 22. A microswitch as 270 may be connected into the operating circuit for the machine and normally held in a closed position by a bar 272 and chain 274. If the web is used up too rapidly, the festoon is decreased in size and, at one point, will come into contact with the bar and release the tension on the microswitch causing it to open and interrupt the circuit, thus insuring that constant tension will be maintained in the web.

It will be understood that the modifications shown and described are also intended to be illustrative of various other variations of the method and apparatus of the invention. We may desire to apply adhesive in different patterns and we may prefer to change the appearance and composition of the adhesive selvage in various ways as by introducing color or adding various other agents.

In connection with the method of the invention which has been devised for handling a web of material with uniform controlled tension and applying a band of adhesive, there may also be carried out a method of combining with the band of adhesive, fibres such as cut fibres of the class employed in flocking process, for example, in order to provide at the selvage positions a napped surface in place of the adhesive surface. This may be carried out in the method of the invention by applying loose fibrous material to the band of adhesive while the latter is in a tacky or uncured condition so that a light bonding of the loose fibres with the adhesive is accomplished. Thereafter, the fibre covered adhesive may be cured and cut in the manner already described.

It will also be understood that we may practice the method of the invention with both woven and unwoven forms of textiles fabricated from any desired class of fibre.

Although we have employed the term adhesive-type selvage, we do not intend to limit the invention to an impregnating material which is necessarily an adhesive and we may use as an impregnant any fluid or other type of binder which can be combined along a narrow width or section of the web to anchor fibres so that they may be cut and separated to form suitable selvages.

We may still further desire to apply the method and apparatus of the invention in any one of its various forms indicated to produce a variety of cut pieces such as, for example, aprons, curtains, towels, table cloths, bed linen, flags and the like in keeping with the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, What we claim is:

1. In a selvage forming machine for textile materials roll means for furnishing a web of textile material in a substantially tension free state, means for engaging the web at separated points and advancing it along a desired path of movement in a state of uniform tension, an applicator device for applying bands of adhesive to the Web at spaced-apart points thereon, means for heating the adhesive bearing portions of the web and a mechanism for cutting the adhesive bearing portions to form separated selvages.

2. A structure according to claim 1 in which the means for engaging the web and advancing it along a desired path of movement includes a roll mechanism for engaging and periodically advancing metered lengths of the web and power driven means for operating the roll mechanism in timed relationship with the adhesive applicator and heating means.

3. A structure according to claim 2 in which the means for engaging the web and advancing it along a desired path of movement further includes tensioning elements arranged to provide predetermined tensioning forces which cooperate with the said roll mechanism for maintaining the textile material in a horizontally disposed uniformly stressed position without dimensional change in a direction longitudinally of the web.

4. A structure as defined in claim 3 in which the said means for engaging the web further includes means for supporting a festoon of textile material free from tension and electric switch means for interrupting the power driven means in response to change in size of the festoon of material.

5. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which the applicator device for applying bands of adhesive to the web comprise upper and lower adhesive applicator bars, one of said bars being stationary and the other of said bars being constructed and arranged to pivot through an arc of rotation to engage the web of material and force it against the stationary bar.

6. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which the applicator device for applying bands of adhesive to the web comprise upper and lower adhesive applicator bars, one of said bars being stationary and the other of said bars being constructed and arranged to pivot through an arc of rotation to engage the web of material and force it against the stationary bar, and doctor blade means for removing excessive adhesive from said pivotally supported applicator bar.

7. A structure as defined in claim 1 including electrical braking means constructed and arranged to register successive bands of adhesive with the said cutting mechanism whereby cutting may take place along lines of cutting which extend substantially centrally of respective bands of adhesive.

8. In a method of forming diapers with an adhesive type selvage, the steps which include advancing a web of textile material under a predetermined tension with the warp threads of the textile material extending in the direction of travel, periodically interrupting travel of metered lengths of the web while maintaining said tension and applying spaced-apart bands of adhesive which extend transversely of the web, engaging successive portions of the Web while at rest at upper and lower sections thereof and along spaced transverse lines of engagement which localize tension in those sections of the web receiving adhesive thereby to prevent stretching of warp threads, and simultaneously registering succeeding bands of adhesive on the web with a cutting station during each period of interruption of travel and cutting the web along transverse lines of cutting which extend substantially centrally of respective bands of adhesive.

9. A method according to claim 8 in which the said bands of adhesive are converted from a tacky, viscous condition into a fully cured, hardened state in time intervals corresponding to the periods of interruption of travel of the web.

10. A method according to claim 8 in which successive bands of adhesive are cured by heat in respective time intervals corresponding to the periods of interruption of travel of the Web and thereafter each of the successive adhesive bands is drawn into contact with and around a cycle metering surface for a predetermined distance during periods of travel of the said Web.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 316,906 Muller et al Apr. 28, 1885 364,281 Ogden June 7, 1887 1,271,885 Freydberg July 9, 1918 14 Moller Nov. 4, 1919 Hutchingson Feb. 15, 1921 Thomson Jan. 10, 1928 Helmer Aug. 23, 1938 Lane Jan. 17, 1939 Novick Feb. 21, 1939 Moore May 14, 1940 Greiser Dec. 17, 1940 Paris et a1 Nov. 24, 1942 Karlson I an. 25, 1944 Howard Jan. 10, 1950 Campbell Oct. 2, 1951 Holt May 11, 1954 Wood et a1. Apr. 3, 1956 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFIQATE 0F CORRECTION Patent Noo 2,852,467 I September 16, 1958 Richard Do Wood Er et al It ie hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column l line ZZB fQr "which" read an it line 25 for "state, the" read an sceviaeo The e Signed and this 3rd day of February 19590 (SEAL) Attest:

KARL PL, MINE I ROBERT Attesting Oflicer Commi 

1. IN A SELVAGE FORMING MACHINE FOR TEXTILE MATERIALS ROLL MEANS FOR FURNISHING A WEB OF TEXTILE MATERIAL IN A SUBSTANTIALLY TENSION FREE STATE, MEANS FOR ENGAGING THE WEB AT SEPARATED POINTS AND ADVANCING IT ALONG A DESIRED PATH OF MOVEMENT IN A STATE OF UNIFORM TENSION, AN APPLICATOR DEVICE FOR APPLYING BANDS OF ADHESIVE TO THE WEB AT SPACED-APART POINTS THEREON, MEANS FOR HEATING THE ADHESIVE BEARING PORTIONS OF THE WEB AND A MECHANISM FOR CUTTING THE ADHESIVE BEARING PORTIONS TO FORM SEPARATED SELVAGES.
 8. IN A METHOD OF FORMING DIAPERS WITH AN ADHESIVE TYPE SELVAGE, THE STEPS WHICH INCLUDE ADVANCING A WEB OF TEXTILE MATERIAL UNDER A PREDETERMINED TENSION WITH THE WARP THREADS OF THE TEXTILE MATERIAL EXTENDING IN THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL, PERIODICALLY INTERRUPTING TRAVEL OF METERED LENGTHS OF THE WEB WHILE MAINTAINING SAID TENSION AND APPLYING SPACED-APART BANDS OF ADHESIVE WHICH EXTEND TRANSVERSELY OF THE WEB, ENGAGING SUCCESSIVE PORTIONS OF THE WEB WHILE AT REST AT UPPER AND LOWER SECTIONS THEREOF AND ALONG SPACED TRANSVERSE LINES OF ENGAGEMENT WHICH LOCALIZE TENSION IN THOSE SECTIONS OF THE WEB RECEIVING ADHESIVE THEREBY TO PREVENT STRETCHING OF WARP THREADS, AND SIMULTANEOUSLY REGISTERING SUCCEEDING BANDS OF ADHESIVE ON THE WEB WITH A CUTTING STATION DURING EACH PERIOD OF INTERRUPTION OF TRAVEL AND CUTTING THE WEB ALONG TRANSVERSE LINES OF CUTTING WHICH EXTEND SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY OF RESPECTIVE BANDS OF ADHESIVE. 